During the January transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur decided to part ways with midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, sending the 25-year-old to Olympique Lyonnais on a loan deal.
Spurs captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris discussed his departure with the transfer of Ndombele to the Premier League side. Lloris stated to L’Equipe that his former teammate needed to get playing time since, at Tottenham, he was in a complicated situation.
“He was in a somewhat complicated situation at Tottenham,” Lloris said. “He longed for a little more playing time, which he found in Lyon, in an environment he knows very well, with people who show him a lot of affection, and, to revive himself, it’s certainly the best choice he could make.”
Lloris also added that Ndombele lacked rigor and regularity while with the north London club, but the qualities and the love of the game are there.
“We all know his talent, which has never been questioned at Tottenham. He still has pure talent. He does things other people can’t. Here, he made incredible matches, sometimes. And behind his somewhat nonchalant look, he has a good background, and he really likes football,” Lloris said.
Despite being at a club where he’s familiar with and getting playing time, Ndombele reportedly won’t be staying long in Lyon. According to the Evening Standard, Lyon has decided against paying Ndombele’s clause, and the 25-year-old is expecting to return to Tottenham for the 2022-23 season.
Nonetheless, suppose Ndombele performs as he did against West Ham United in the first left of their quarter-final match up in the UEFA Europa League. In that case, Spurs might get a buyer to offload the midfielder.
